CHICAGO — For the second time in three nights, the Sparks got another first-hand look at one of the WNBA’s top rookies.
Angel Reese finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for her rookie record 26th double-double of the season and the Chicago Sky snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 92-78 victory over the last-place Sparks on Friday night.
Reese shot 9 for 15 from the field as Chicago (12-22) remained tied with the Atlanta Dream for the eighth and final playoff berth with six games remaining.
Chennedy Carter finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in her return for the Sky. Carter had not played since Aug. 25 due to health and safety protocols. Kamilla Cardoso totaled 12 points and nine boards.
Dearica Hamby had 21 points, five assists and four steals to lead the Sparks (7-27), who have lost three in a row and 10 of their last 11. Rookie Rickea Jackson added 17 points and six rebounds and Azura Stevens had nine points and nine rebounds.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in April’s WNBA draft, had a 24-point triple-double to lead her team past the Sparks, 93-86, on Wednesday night.
Jackson’s layup gave the Sparks a 19-13 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter. Diamond DeShields and Rachel Banham hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull Chicago even. Hamby split a pair of free throws with three seconds left to give the Sparks a 20-19 lead.
Banham had nine points by halftime on 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc and Carter also scored nine to help Chicago build a 48-42 lead.
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Reese, the No. 7 pick in the draft, took over in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to push Chicago’s lead to 75-61.
The Sparks fell to 2-16 on the road this season. Chicago won for just the fifth time in 17 home games. The Sky won all three matchups with the Sparks this season.
UP NEXT
The Sparks host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday at 6 p.m.